Radiation From Nuclear Plant

It’s ironic that my childhood memories of happy family vacations to the beautiful state of Washington must be shadowed by the Hanford weapons plant radiation leak (“U.S. Tells of ‘40s Radiation in Northwest,” Part A, July 12).

Every summer we visited my mother’s hometown of Walla Walla, located in the southeastern corner of the state, where she and her sisters grew up. Two years ago she was diagnosed with cancer (a lymphoma) and a year before that one of her younger sisters also was found to have it. The first oncologist that reviewed her case suspected at once that it was caused by radioactive iodine--this was before he even knew where she had lived.

I hope that the investigators from the Energy Department do a good job; 50 years is a long time to discover a mistake or finally admit to one. My mom was only able to live 50 years, thanks to that mistake. I hope for her sake and all those who have been exposed to this radioactive disaster that more eyes will be opened and the “cleanup” will prevent further hurt to those exposed to its awful power.

HEIDI BERNARD

Manhattan Beach